Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Yin-Eroding Bug

Shao Heng used Tai Yin cold qi as a guide, drawing earth-vein yin qi into her sea of consciousness while preventing it from corroding her meridians.

But the moment the yin qi surged in, she felt as if she’d been dropped into an ice cellar.

It was nothing like drawing in lunar radiance.

She steadied her mind and ran the spirit-refining method. Each collision between her spiritual sense and the yin qi felt like needles stabbing into her skull.

Time passed.

Under the method’s influence, her spiritual sense slowly began to take on the traits of yin qi—becoming colder, denser, sharper. The pain eased, inch by inch, until it was bearable.

She didn’t know how long had gone by.

When her injuries fully healed and the yin qi had tempered her divine sense until it was tough and solid, she shifted the method and split her spiritual sense again—two strands becoming four.

She refined the four strands once more, stabilized them completely, then ended the session.

Beside her, Ao Chuan yawned lazily, tail drawing idle circles on the cavern floor.

When he saw her stand, his eyes brightened. “You finally woke up!”

Shao Heng looked down. The bulges on Ao Chuan’s body were gone, and his aura had stepped cleanly into late First Realm.

She pulled out a timing talisman and checked it.

More than eight days had passed since she’d entered the cavern.

“Where are we going now?” Ao Chuan asked, suddenly energetic.

Shao Heng didn’t rush to leave. She took out several luminous pearls and scattered them to brighten the cavern. Then she rummaged through Lu Tian Xiang’s storage jade ring and pulled out a bronze three-legged cauldron—one Lu Tian Xiang still hadn’t refined.

It wasn’t too big or too small. When she set it down, it fit the space surprisingly well.

“I promised earlier I’d let you taste that spirit lotus root,” Shao Heng said. “If we make smoke outside, it’s like shouting to everyone, ‘Someone’s here—come hit me.’ Underground is safer.”

The yin qi she’d absorbed had thinned the cavern’s density. A yang spell could be used smoothly now.

With a flick of her fingers, she activated a Blazing Flame Talisman beneath the cauldron. Then she condensed half a cauldron of water with water-element qi, took out a cloth bag, and poured in White Jade Spirit Rice.

Ao Chuan watched, curious. “Is this how you cook porridge?”

“Of course it is,” Shao Heng said with absolute confidence.

She’d never cooked a day in her life. Back in the marquis’s estate, she’d never even poured herself spring water. After being thrown out, she’d fought over leftovers. After cultivating, she’d lived on Fasting Pills.

Shao Heng pulled out two pieces of spirit lotus root. Without peeling them, she condensed spiritual power into a blade, sliced them thin, and dropped them into the cauldron.

“I’m keeping the original flavor,” she declared. “Understand?”

Ao Chuan felt something was off, but her confidence was so overwhelming he nodded without thinking.

As the flame brought the water to a boil, a faint sweetness rose from the spirit rice and lotus slices.

Shao Heng considered for a moment, then dug deeper into Lu Tian Xiang’s ring and pulled out a pile of spirit plants and spirit vegetables.

Ao Chuan stared. Then he lifted his head slowly and asked, “You can add all of these to porridge?”

“Of course.” Shao Heng didn’t blink. “Stop being so clueless.”

Thanks to the Golden Crow Sun-Embracing Visualization Art, her control over fire-element spells had improved. The flame was fierce. In less than half an hour, she formed a Wood-Binding Charm into a pair of wooden chopsticks, poked the pot, and found everything soft and mushy.

Ao Chuan understood instantly. He lunged toward the cauldron, mouth open.

Shao Heng caught him by the neck and held him back. Then she conjured a large wooden bowl, tipped the cauldron, filled it, and set it on the ground in front of him.

“Eat properly.”

She released him.

Ao Chuan snorted twice, then took a cautious sip.

The scalding porridge couldn’t harm his mouth at all—and it tasted fresh and sweet. His eyes widened.

“Tasty! You’re amazing!”

Then he buried his head and slurped noisily.

The faint trace of guilt in Shao Heng’s chest vanished at once, replaced by a swell of pride.

Of course. Whatever I do, I’m the best.

She conjured herself a smaller wooden bowl and spoon, served a portion, cooled it with Wind-Blowing Technique, and ate.

Ever since joining the sect, she hadn’t eaten grains in a long time.

Now the spirit rice porridge warmed her from the inside out. The vegetables were crisp-sweet, the rice fragrant and rich. Thin streams of qi slipped into her body, leaving a comfortable glow behind.

In the mortal world, they said food nourished the body. Spirit meals benefited cultivators without leaving pill toxins behind. The nourishment was quiet, gentle—soaking in without notice.

Shao Heng had been too busy cultivating, planting spirit rice, taking missions, and browsing the Wondrous Dharma Pavilion. Fasting Pills saved time. They’d always been her first choice.

Now, with a rare moment of leisure, she cradled her bowl and let the corner of her mouth lift.

By the time she’d eaten half, Ao Chuan had already finished his entire large bowl. Seeing no objection from Shao Heng, he crawled straight into the cauldron and licked the remaining rice soup from the bronze walls until they were spotless.

Even though it looked clean enough to skip washing, Shao Heng still frowned, cast Dust-Cleansing Technique, and stored the cauldron away.

“Once I finish this half bowl, we’ll leave,” she said.

She ate faster.

Then she sensed it—an almost imperceptible ripple in the air, closing fast.

Her ears twitched. She turned her head—

A streak of blue light shot toward her.

Not at her.

At her porridge bowl.

Shao Heng reacted instantly. She tossed the wooden bowl forward and jumped back several steps.

The blue light chased the bowl exactly as she’d predicted.

Shao Heng reached out. With an Object-Command Spell, the wooden bowl snapped back into her palm without spilling a drop.

At the same time, she formed a seal with her left hand and fired a ball of flame straight at the blue streak.

Bzzz!

The blue light revealed its true form—a tiny insect, its body as translucent as sapphire. Six legs. Thin, mosquito-like wings.

The flame made it shriek, but didn’t burn it to ash. The bug thrashed within the fire-prison, unable to escape, yet not gravely injured.

“What is this thing?” Shao Heng asked, eyes narrowing.

She’d read plenty of texts on demon beasts, but none matched this blue bug.

Ao Chuan stared, bloodline inheritance stirring—True Dragons carried vast knowledge in their blood.

His alarm hit all at once.

“That’s a Yin-Eroding Bug!”

“It’s an ancient insect clan born alongside yin qi. When they don’t see light or heat, they automatically go dormant. We woke it by cooking.”

“Let’s go—now. Don’t bother with this little bug. If a Yin-Eroding Bug is here, the mother bug is nearby.”

“Ordinary Yin-Eroding Bugs live short lives,” Ao Chuan said, voice sharp with urgency, “but the mother’s breeding ability is terrifying. She can raise an army of tens of thousands in half an hour!”